Instead, the top Strikeforce welterweight contender has much loftier goals – including one to put St. Louis and Missouri on the MMA map.

Additionally, he wants his new venture, American Top Team Evolution, to be a launching pad for world-class fighters who also are world-class people.

This past week, Woodley opened the gym in St. Louis (9751 Manchester Road). The Missouri native and two-time NCAA Division I wrestling All-American wrestler at the University of Missouri had notables such as Randy Couture, Thiago Alves, Din Thomas and Jason High on hand for the ceremony. Because, eventually, he wants ATT Evolution to be on the level of gyms such as American Top Team’s flagship training center in Florida, Xtreme Couture, Team Jackson-Winkeljohn and American Kickboxing Academy.

“We’re taking the tradition of American Top Team – its excellence and being a trailblazer in the sport – and we’re going to transition that into our form of evolution,” Woodley recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “So it’s called ‘ATT Evolution: Training Ahead of the Curve.'”

Although Strikeforce has hosted a few shows in St. Louis, and though Bellator often visits Kansas City, Woodley knows most fans don’t see the Show-Me State as an MMA hotbed. But with a little hard work and collaboration, Woodley thinks St. Louis could become the Las Vegas of the Midwest.

Woodley (9-0 MMA, 7-0 SF), who next fights fast-rising Jordan Mein (23-7 MMA, 1-0 SF) on Jan. 7 at “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” in Las Vegas, specifically points to a new gym opened by UFC vet and current Cage Warriors fighter Kyle Watson. He sees them as future partners for the betterment of the city and sport.

“We’re going to have to collaborate on some efforts,” Woodley said. “I’m a big fan of bringing our city to the point where mixed martial arts is well-known in the state of Missouri – not just myself and not just my gym. I think it’s a poor representation overall of the state of Missouri that at times the combat-sports athletes here go back and forth with each other to be the best in the city or the region instead of trying to attack being the best in the world.

“I think other places have gotten that. Las Vegas understands that with Randy Couture’s gym. AKA gets that. American Top Team gets that. All these other academies and camps, they’re building their legacies worldwide. I think locally we can come together a bit better and work together and try to build our city and town so we’re not behind. California, for example, is light years ahead of us right now.”

Woodley, understandably, is a perfect choice for a torchbearer. Since turning pro in 2009, he’s posted a 9-0 record, including an outstanding 7-0 mark in Strikeforce. In fact, before champion Nick Diaz was moved to the UFC, Woodley was all but guaranteed a shot at his belt.

So how did a fighter so new to the game get to the top level so quickly? And why are others fighters he currently manages or formerly managed (such as Bellator lightweight champ and fellow Mizzou wrestler Michael Chandler) able to do the same?

“We just work hard,” Woodley said. “We work hard. We understand the concept of drilling. We put techniques together well. We understand the nature of our sport. We’ll work something 300 times until it becomes a reaction.

“You’ll see a 30-second flurry in a wrestling match, and you might see 20 moves in that 30 seconds. That’s why we’re able to pick up the striking faster. We’re able literally to be tougher and pusher harder. And I think overall, we’re just able to be more athletic.”

In addition to his own career, Woodley is responsible for a handful of careers for younger, up-and-coming fighters. Some are new to the sport of MMA, and some have signed or are close to signing with the big shows. Most, of course, simply want to follow Woodley’s quick rise to the top. But to do that, they have to be committed.

“We’re competing not only to be the best in our state, but we have to out-rain everyone in the country,” he said. “With everyone in our weight class, we have to make sure we’re doing more on a daily basis. We have to raise that bar consistently.”

Woodley, a St. Louis native who grew up in a household with 12 siblings, learned a lot from his mom, who raised a small army of offspring into upstanding citizens. After some trip-ups, Woodley eventually found his outlet in wrestling, and now he’s found a career in MMA.

But he believes he’s more than a fighter. Like any modern-day gladiator worth his salt, fighting is one part of the equation. If you’re Woodley or a fighter who hopes to be associated with him, it’s important to remember the other part of the equation.

“I tell them it’s not just about how hard you fight; it’s about your brand,” he said. “I like my brand to be one of integrity. When people see me, not only am I going to fight hard and try to bring it and put on a good show, but I’m going to have some sense when I have a microphone.

“I’m going to conduct myself so that when Nike or Gatorade or some sponsor that’s corporate wants to come on and try somebody, I’m their guy. If I’m managing you, you also have to be that guy.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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